Susan was my manager for many years at Xerox, up until she retired (a bittersweet day).

I most remember her kindness and gentleness. Her amazing ability to break things I'd build was far from gentle though...we didn't need a QA department when we had Susan!

Her ability to see different perspectives and play "devils advocate" always helped me strengthen my proposals.

When I was a new parent she was extremely supportive and accomidating. She even sent my daughter a very sweet little outfit.

During one of my written status updates I buried a line item "Utilized Lean Six Sigma principles to optimize diaper changing process". Not only did she catch that but she asked what improvements I made!

Sweet Susan with the BIG  beautiful smile!  There was never a time that we were together that she wasn't energetic and full of happiness and smiles.  Even when things were hard and I am sure painful, she always had a positive attitude in the presence of others.  I liked her the minute I met her and soon realized we had a lot in common.  Our love for nature, birds, gardening our children and our grandchildren.  She was always doing or making something unique.   It was a special day when out two families were joined together when Aaron and Elizabeth married.  It was evident the love she and Lee had for their family and what an incredible daughter, Elizabeth they had raised.  I felt so blessed .  She loved her family fiercely and I respected and admired her so very much!  She inspired me in so many ways, especially now.  I cherish the times we shared, although too short , but know I will see that BIG beautiful smile again one day.  Her spirit and enduring love will continue in those she gave so much too. 

 Love to the entire family.  

Heidi Edwards

Susan, my sweet friend, I will miss you!

For 20+ years, every couple of months we would drive down to the Downtown Dallas Farmers Market as part of a Fruit/Vegetable co-op.

Getting the fruit/veggies was only the cover story because the best part was how we would get to catch up on each other’s lives, families, hobbies. Here’s what I learned along the way about Susan.

She LOVED her family – husband, children, grandchildren, siblings, etc – she was all about family. You meant the world to her.

She LOVED fresh fruits/vegetables – buying them, growing them, cooking them, eating them. She was so patient teaching me (someone who burns water) how to use our bounty.

She LOVED her friends – she was a master at making, keeping and cherishing her friends. She had a big heart and I was a lucky lady to be embraced by it.

Susan, we will miss you – your smile, your wonder and your sweet nature. I have peace knowing your family and friends now have a beautiful angel watching over us. Love you bunches, girlfriend. 

What I remember most about Susan is how she made my family and me feel. We were always welcomed and never judged by her. She loved on Lyla, Tripp, and Oakley like they were her own grandkids and my kids certainly felt it as well. 

I enjoyed our talks about politics, "debates" about women's sports (specifically Women's NCAA basketball/softball), when we talked about what shows we were watching, or what she and Lee found while out metal detecting. Her excitement around the metal detecting made it exciting for me to hear what was in her latest haul.

Her mango salsa was legit. 

I loved her painted rocks and the Silly Sally set she got for my kids to go along with the book.

I never heard her speak negatively about anyone. When we were talking about someone in a negative manner, she would always speak up from the other point of view playing devil's advocate to help us understand that maybe they were going through something personally we didn't know about or maybe we just didn't know the whole story. She was truly one of the nicest people I've ever met.

We could always count on her giving us some of her fruits and/or veggies from her co-op.

I loved how she could laugh at herself all the way to the end. A few months before she passed, she was losing her hair. My 4 year old son, Tripp, showed up and saw her without hair or a hat for the first time. He walked by her and was making his way to Susan's toy corner in the living room (like usual), stopped, did a double take at her appearance, and asked, "Who did you let give you a hair cut like that?" I cringed at this part of the story while Tessa relayed it to me, but she said Susan was cracking up at that comment. She didn't miss a beat and thought it was hilarious. 

She was truly one of a kind and will be dearly missed by the Alexanders.